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Kabylia and several other Algerian cities lived on Friday (August 8, 2025) another “Black Day” of brutality and violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by the heavily armed security and military forces.
The Algerian authorities, which fear the return of the Hirak movement that ousted Bouteflika regime, deployed thousands of anti-riot forces to prevent popular rallies for the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The call for massive protests on Friday has been circulating for several days on social media networks by several Associations, local unions, and Kabyle activists. The protest movement gained momentum following the arrest of several activists of the Movement for self-determination of Kabylia (MAK), the unfair trials of independent journalists, and strong police presence in the wilayas of Tizi Ouzou, Béjaïa, and Bouira.
The growing economic difficulties in the country and the serious shortage in basic staples are also fuelling social resentment in the country. In the city of Tizi Ouzou, convenient stores were closed, bus services were halted, and public administrations deserted.
Young demonstrators gathered in several neighbourhoods such as Boukhalfa, Redjaouna, and Azazga. They chanted slogans against the military regime of Saïd Chengriha, the government, the suppression of freedom of expression and called for Kabylia independence. The authorities responded with firing tear gas and the arrests of many demonstrators.
In Algeria’s capital city, several popular districts such as Bab El Oued, El Harrach, and Belouizdad were also rocked by sporadic protests. In Constantine and Oran, peaceful slogans were chanted, while in the South, in Ghardaïa, the demonstrators denounced the marginalization of this region historically opposed to central government.
The situation remains tense in the country amid new calls for civil disobedience, heralding the return of Hirak for a regime change as Algeria is sliding into deeper economic and political crises. Its relations with France and all neighbouring countries (except Tunisia) are deteriorating.
The EU is taking the Algerian regime to court for violating trade & investment agreement. Algeria has also been included in the EU blacklist of high-risk countries for money laundering and terrorism financing. Its Polisario militia is expected to be branded by Washington as a terrorist organization slapping Algeria with sanctions and labelled as state sponsor of terrorism.
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